Language of recall petition approved for two Wayland Union school board members

WAYLAND -- Allegan County election officials approved the language for two of three recall petitions sought against Wayland Union school board members.

Organizers must now collect signatures in support of putting the recall questions for Board of Education members Don Borgic and Jon Carroll on the ballot. If the signatures are collected and approved, voters could see the questions before them in February.

Election officials rejected a recall petition for Paul Schloop because his term of office expires in May, less than six months from the earliest possible vote.

Mick Lane filed the petitions after meeting with other residents.

According to the petition language, the two board members should be recalled because they supported privatizing the custodian contracts, resulting in 23 job losses; Superintendent Eivor Swan's actions regarding bomb and gun threats in violation of district policy; and for unbecoming conduct.

The petition cites Borgic for "slamming his fist and a water bottle and yelling at participants" at a meeting.

In Carroll's case, the petition cites comments about recently elected board members as unbecoming conduct. The petition also states Carroll attended only 25 percent of the board meetings from Dec. 14 through May 1.

Carroll and Borgic declined to comment.

Carroll has served on the board since 1997 and was also a teacher in the district for 33 years. His term expires June 2013. Borgic has been on the board since 2004 and his term will expire in June 2012.